Chronicle Editor
Judith Phiri, Business Reporter
THE Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare has said the Zimbabwe Integrated Social Protection Management Information System (ISPMIS), will be the foundation of efficient service delivery in the identification, enrolment, and management of social protection beneficiaries.
Speaking at the provincial launch of the ICT system in Bulawayo on Friday, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr Simon Masanga, said the system will ensure good governance of social protection systems.
“As a Ministry, we are mandated to provide relief to socio-economic, climate and natural disasters-induced hardships on the people of Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe ISPMIS enables harmonised implementation and monitoring of programmes, while ensuring transparency and good governance of social protection systems,” he said.
“In achieving this mandate, the Ministry is embarking on a computerised drive where all social protection programmes must undergo digitisation ultimately to deliver a fully integrated and automated social protection service.”
He said in that endeavour multiple strides have been made in ICT infrastructure and software development with the support of multiple technical and development partners.
Mr Masanga said the National Social Protection Policy Framework (NSPPF), which was launched in December 2016 and is currently under review, recommended for the creation of the ISPMIS for better management of social protection programmes in Zimbabwe.
“The ISPMIS is also one of the goals to be achieved under the National Development Strategy (NDS1). This will be achieved through the Social Protection Thematic Working group consisting of the Technical Committee chaired by the Ministry comprising Government Line Ministries, Government Agencies and Cooperating Partners (UNICEF, WFP, World Bank).”
The Permanent Secretary said the Ministry secured funding from World Bank amounting to US$1 million to develop the ISPMIS, while the Treasury created a specific budget line to develop the system as well.
He said they have achieved great milestones in the development of the ISPMIS and phases that were covered include needs assessment for each programme was carried out, system design and system development as well as development of a national data centre where the live system will be hosted.
Mr Masanga said: “Several trainings were conducted including System Administrator Trainings -a team from Head Office and Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services led by the Chief Director of Social Development and Disability Affairs were trained in Armenia about the system and its architecture. The trainees also managed to familiarise with the environment where the system is being developed and appreciate system performance.”
The Permanent Secretary said the system was piloted in nine Cyclone Idai affected districts namely Chikomba, Mutare, Chipinge, Buhera, Chimanimani, Masvingo, Zaka, Gutu and Chiredzi using the Food Deficit Mitigation Strategy.
He said the exercise was a tremendous success as district officers witnessed how the system accommodates components of shock responsiveness in Social Protection.
“In addition, it was observed that the system is flexible enough to add new programmes and their parameters. Development partners can also access information relevant to their programmes.”
Mr Masanga said beneficiaries were registered in the Social Registry using both offline and online application, households were validated, approved for payments and paysheets were produced at district level.
He said a development site at Compensation House has been fully equipped and installed with the necessary security systems and infrastructure procured by Development Partner, the World Bank.
“The development partner also supported the Ministry with computers, electronic tablets, power backup batteries and printers.”
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